The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-07-13

For some time Katherine's whole at
tention was absorbed in her household
duties, especially in preparing her
Younger brother and sister for school.
SO it was several hours after her
fathers departure before she became
conscious that something unusual was
happening. But now she saw that the
ordinarily quiet street was constantly
echoing the hurry of passing feet,
while murmur of excited words pen
etrated through the closed windows.
Throwing open the front door, she
stood in the full brightness of the
spring day. Fortune, good or i'll, had
ordained that it should be just at the
moment when John Sherman, flint-lock
in hand, turned to urge band of young
men who followed him to their utmost
haste.
But Johns eager hurry could not
blind him to the fact that there APP
peared almost beside him vision as
sweet and comely as mortal eyes could
desire to gaze upon.
There was small need of Katherine's
almost breathless question, What's
the matter?" The group had halted,
and John came forward to tell the news
of the battle for freedom raging on the
heights of Charlestown. Katherine
looked into his glowing face and felt a
thrill of sympathy that she thought
pure patriotism, and undoubtedly it had
its source in the same great spring OF
| human feeling. AS she listened to the
story of the vacillating battle, the lack
of men and ammunition on the pat
riot side, she forgot all but the lesson
of the pine trees and the needs of her
countrymen in their struggle with
| tyranny.
DO you say that the powder is giving
out, John?" she interrupted. Come
with me-" She led the young men
down into the cellar, and showing
them where stood a barrel of powder
which her father had destined to the
far different purpose of giving aid and
comfort to the enemy, if need were
she babe them carry away all they
could take, and send all empty powder
| TASKS to her for replenishing.
Thus, through the morning, she stood
giving out the deadly stuff until moi
one grain remained, and not till ther
did one qualm or question come to her.
Before the dinner hour, for which
DR.. Gray had thought he would be toe
late, the painting bay, in state of great
perpleXity of mind as to why his usual
stately jog had been disturbed, brought
him home again; and the doctor him
self, flushed and breathless, entered the
house.
Then suddenly the full responsibility
of her deed flashed upon Katherine
but she was too stanch of purpose to
finch; indeed, as she stood before her
father, the same glow of excitement il
her whole attitude, she was not an unfi
representative of d" the spirit of '76."
Her father read in her face that shC
already knew of the stirring event tina
was passing, and simply said, " Yol
have heard, Kitty, and you know tina
the kings forces have defeated th,
rebels?''
"No, father, l had not heard that
and | am sorry. l heard that the min
ute men were out of powder and would
have to retreat, and | have done some
thing at which, l fear, you will bt
angry"
What, Kitty, you have not given-?'
Yes, father, / sent all your powde
to fill the empty TASKS of the patriots
| never thought at ALT seemed tn,
only thing to do, and, and"
For moment DR.. Gray's eyes tlashe,
fire themselves, and the indignant bloo
mounted in his temples; he even be
gan to utter words of upbraiding, bu
the pale, firm face turned up to his
half-sorry, half-triumphant, was tina
of the child who had given her you'll
to comfort and console him and ha,
never differed from him in aught els
beside the strange leaning in this new
madness of rebellion which had seizeC
upon so many of his friends and neigh
bors. The good doctor was grieve
and veXed enough to have his favorit,
child introduce the monster heresy int
his own household; but he was both
loving and just man, and, grievous a
was the struggle within him, he kisse,
her fondly as he said: Kitty, Kitty
you are traitor to the king and fathe
too; but heaven bless you, child"
In after years, when her father sa
peacefully at her fireside, rejoicing il
the blessings of freedom, though neve
admitting their cause, Mrs. John Shel
man told this story to her children, an
their grandfather shook his gray hair
and said: b" Yes, children, all my powde
went to Bunker Hill; but it was burne
on the wrong side, for your mothe
was as great a rebel as any in tn
land.-Erchange.